Iipinge Kids go viral with healing gospel anthems
Siblings turn personal pain into gospel hits
Two rising Namibian gospel musicians, siblings Iipinge Shaanika, the group’s producer, and vocalist-composer Sasa Fortune Saya, who perform together as Iipinge Kids, say their breakthrough hits 'Check Up on Me' and 'Kapena Uudhigu Ihawushulu' were born from personal battles with mental health and a determination to offer solace to Namibians quietly facing their own struggles.
Shaanika told tjil that the inspiration for the track emerged during one of the darkest periods of his life.
'Kapena Uudhigu Ihawushulu', sung in Oshiwambo, roughly translates as “hardships don’t last forever”.
Both songs were released on their second album titled 'Healing Hymns' earlier this month.
“Mental health is a big thing, but it isn’t taken that seriously,” Saya noted. “A lot of people are pouring out their hearts whenever they listen to the song that's trending on TikTok."
Bearing the soul
The duo said their latest musical endeavour began while searching for comforting, healing music online, only to find very little that reflected Namibian realities, particularly in local languages. “We were looking for comforting songs on YouTube and social media, and we weren’t finding any,” Saya said. “Especially in Namibia, hymns really help with healing.”
That gap inspired them to create their own sound. “We decided we were going to do it for Namibians,” she added.
Within 24 hours of uploading their 'Kapena Uudhigu Ihawushulu' to TikTok, the song had gone viral.
According to the pair, the track carries both cultural and emotional weight. “We kept it in Oshiwambo because we wanted to bring the culture out,” Saya explained. “There’s a choir theme and other unique instrumentals that make it so distinct.”
Beyond its rhythm, the song speaks directly to resilience and survival. “It’s a message to the nation – to remain bold and strong in difficult circumstances,” she added.
The emotional core of the project stems from Shaanika’s battle with a mental health breakdown.
His sister, Saya, stood by him. Through the art, they are channelling their shared experience into healing music. Their aim, she said, was to reach “other people who are going through difficult circumstances.”
Modern tools to enhance creativity
Shaanika confirmed that they employed advanced AI technology in producing both albums – a choice that has sparked mixed reactions in the industry. “We have beat makers, but we don’t have sound makers,” he said. “The Namibian music industry needs experts.”
He acknowledged that some in the industry had accused them of relying entirely on AI.
“They told us that it’s all AI. Yes, we did use the most expensive AI tool to produce quality music,” he noted, but explained that the aim was simply to improve sound quality, not replace creative input.
He encouraged local musicians to embrace modern tools instead of fearing them. "Musicians and producers must make use of the latest technology and not be discouraged from using it."
The duo said new singles will only be released next year, as their current priority is ensuring the existing albums reach “every corner” before embarking on new work.
Their debut album, ‘Food For The Hungry Soul’ was released in October, followed by the latest album, 'Healing Hymns', on 8 November. Their first music video is also set to be released soon.
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Shaanika told tjil that the inspiration for the track emerged during one of the darkest periods of his life.
'Kapena Uudhigu Ihawushulu', sung in Oshiwambo, roughly translates as “hardships don’t last forever”.
Both songs were released on their second album titled 'Healing Hymns' earlier this month.
“Mental health is a big thing, but it isn’t taken that seriously,” Saya noted. “A lot of people are pouring out their hearts whenever they listen to the song that's trending on TikTok."
Bearing the soul
The duo said their latest musical endeavour began while searching for comforting, healing music online, only to find very little that reflected Namibian realities, particularly in local languages. “We were looking for comforting songs on YouTube and social media, and we weren’t finding any,” Saya said. “Especially in Namibia, hymns really help with healing.”
That gap inspired them to create their own sound. “We decided we were going to do it for Namibians,” she added.
Within 24 hours of uploading their 'Kapena Uudhigu Ihawushulu' to TikTok, the song had gone viral.
According to the pair, the track carries both cultural and emotional weight. “We kept it in Oshiwambo because we wanted to bring the culture out,” Saya explained. “There’s a choir theme and other unique instrumentals that make it so distinct.”
Beyond its rhythm, the song speaks directly to resilience and survival. “It’s a message to the nation – to remain bold and strong in difficult circumstances,” she added.
The emotional core of the project stems from Shaanika’s battle with a mental health breakdown.
His sister, Saya, stood by him. Through the art, they are channelling their shared experience into healing music. Their aim, she said, was to reach “other people who are going through difficult circumstances.”
Modern tools to enhance creativity
Shaanika confirmed that they employed advanced AI technology in producing both albums – a choice that has sparked mixed reactions in the industry. “We have beat makers, but we don’t have sound makers,” he said. “The Namibian music industry needs experts.”
He acknowledged that some in the industry had accused them of relying entirely on AI.
“They told us that it’s all AI. Yes, we did use the most expensive AI tool to produce quality music,” he noted, but explained that the aim was simply to improve sound quality, not replace creative input.
He encouraged local musicians to embrace modern tools instead of fearing them. "Musicians and producers must make use of the latest technology and not be discouraged from using it."
The duo said new singles will only be released next year, as their current priority is ensuring the existing albums reach “every corner” before embarking on new work.
Their debut album, ‘Food For The Hungry Soul’ was released in October, followed by the latest album, 'Healing Hymns', on 8 November. Their first music video is also set to be released soon.
[email protected]
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